Author: Annie Jo

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update

Cheap booze

My liquor cabinet was dry and it was time to resupply.  I went to snag new versions of what was empty but stopped short when I saw the price.  I couldn’t remember if I had really been paying that much for a bottle of bourbon, but the proof was right there on the price tag.  So I let my eyes drift downward and recalled reading something about underrated cheaper liquor.  I recalled the story well enough to remember Evan Williams being reviewed as the best, so I decided to try something different.

Well, apparently I’m not the only one shunning top shelf choices.  The New York Times reports that less expensive liquor is popular right now.

Categories
update

Give me something to talk about

Enough already.  I know I haven’t updated in a long, much too long, while.  If you want some excuses, here they are.

  • It’s winter (in case I had forgotten, the blizzard yesterday was a good reminder that the nastiness is far from over just because it’s March)
  • I am still fighting off a winter cold
  • Um, it’s winter?

So, why don’t you write the post?  I’m obviously stuck in a rut.  So make it happen for me.  I need something new.  If not brand new to the world, then brand new to me.  New music, new book, new movie, new recipe, new hobby, new game, new product, new anything.  Whatcha got?

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update

Conundrum

As you know (hopefully, I mean do you know me at all?!?) I am less than six months away from the big 3-0.  My twenties are nearing an end.  So far I’m not too upset about crossing over into pure grown up territory.

What I am worrying about is how to celebrate.  30 years of Annie Jo?  It’s got to be momentous.  It’s got to be huge.  Easy, you say, just have a momentously huge party.  Ah, but my friends and family span the globe.  Or at least are divided between West Coast and New England.

So now what?  Force people to travel across the country in these troubled economic times?  Have two parties?  Forget the whole party idea and travel to a remote tropical island to celebrate in peace?

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image

I KenKen talk about puzzles all I want

This post may be about puzzles, but it’s not about jigsaw puzzles and I’ll even throw in a cute nephew picture.

Okay, now on to the puzzle. Surely you’ve heard of Sudoku. This new puzzle is similar, but involves a little math as well. I’m starting to get the hang of it, so go try it out and let me know what you think.

KenKen at the New York Times

My Sudoku experience definitely helps.  I also must admit I’ve had to use a calculator a little.

Categories
comics

Comic Con

Back in 2006, I attended the first ever NY Comic Con.  It was a disorganized, dangerous mess.  This year, dragged back down by children’s librarian extraordinaire Miss Jackie, I found a much more organized, safe-for-the-most-part mess. Strangely enough, the con charges less for librarians and doesn’t make them wait in this giant holding pen.

The Javits Center is a bit gross when inspected closely and the rooms where the sessions were held reminded me of huge empty swimming pools. There were a few panels good enough to make me forget the depressing surroundings, though. The exhibit hall was also pleasant enough in the mornings before the hordes of people made it through the cattle drive to the booths.

Thanks for letting me tag along Jackie.

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image

Enough about puzzles already

I mean, enough about puzzles after I point out that you can do jigsaw puzzles online.  I just did this one.

It took me 8 minutes.

Looks like I have to cover up some of my site for this puzzle.  It’s good to change things up a bit.

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image

Super Bowl success

Well, actually, I guess the team I was cheering for didn’t win.  It looked like they might for brief time there at the end, but oh well.  The nacho cheese sauce was delicious, especially poured over hot and crispy tater tots.

If you missed out on the commercials and are into that sort of thing, Hulu has put them online.

Over the weekend I also finished my second puzzle, the Commemorative Barack Obama 44th U.S. President Puzzle.

Categories
update

My Super Bowl pick

Just kidding.  I don’t know much about NFL, but it does seem like the Steelers are expected to win and I like cheering for an underdog.  So, go Cardinals!

Mostly I love the Super Bowl for an excuse to eat nachos and drink beer. I do wish it came on a little earlier over here on the Atlantic coast.

Anybody else making nachos?  Or something equally delicious?  Who are you rooting for?

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image

1000 pieces

After another dumping of snow last weekend left me unwilling to leave the house, I was bit by the puzzle bug.  Okay, I did leave the house to purchase the puzzle, but it was totally worth it.

I finished this warm beach scene in a few days and wasn’t even sick of the whole thing at the end, so I’ll likely be going back for another.  I don’t know, I might even bump it up to 1500 pieces.

Categories
image

Hello 44

Wearing my inauguration sneakers (you may remember them as my election sneakers), I watched the swearing in and ate my slice of Obama cake.  The Presidential seal frosting was a little chewy.  I watched on the big screen with a lot of other people from the school.  What did everyone else do?